Even though it is actually another type of Nursery Web Spider, the Fishing spider has become known by its own unique common name.

Description (D. tenebrosus) has a brown and black patchy pattern over the entire spider that mixes in well with the banded legs of the same colors. One of the smaller markings, which usually helps me recognize this spider, is the black mask around the eyes. If you see the brown and black pattern and the mask around the eyes, you likely have a Fishing Spider.

(D. triton) Is basically all brown with a white stripe running the length of both body parts on each side. Slightly visible in the picture (sometimes not very visible on the spider) are two rows of white dots just to the inside of the stripes on the abdomen. There are six dark spots on the underneath side of the cephalothorax for which it gets its common name of Six Spotted Fishing Spider.

(D.vittatus) can be medium brown with white trim running down its side, or almost black with no distinguishable trim line. They will have the white dots on the abdomen and in the center of the cephalothorax will be two dark triangular marks side by side. This spider can look very similar to D.scriptus males.

Size - The Fishing Spider is one of the largest spiders in Michigan, as the females of some species can grow up to 4” (102mm), including the legs.

Web – The Fishing Spider spins a web to protect its eggs. She will carry the egg sac underneath her until they are ready to hatch and then she will spin a web to attach the sac to a leaf or some wood or some other object. Once the egg sac is attached to something, she will stand guard over them. They do not spin webs to catch prey, as they are hunters and will wander around looking for their meal.

Bites – They are not usually aggressive spiders, except when they are protecting their eggs or young. If you are bitten, it is not considered to be dangerous, and at its worse, should have some localized swelling and pain that will heal on its own.